When
Wednesday 5th Feb, 1:45 pm

Where
Auditorium

Hashtag
#W14

Category
Insight

Presenter
David Shaw

Abstract

The Inspiring Australia strategy includes mathematics in its definition of science as ‘a field of study in its own right, as well as an essential tool of the sciences’. However, science and mathematics are still often referred to as two distinct fields, such as in the Australian Curriculum.

CSIRO Publishing produces Science by Email and Maths and Stats by Email, which have similar target audiences: children aged 9 to 13, and their teachers, parents and the general public. Through these publications, CSIRO Publishing is in a unique position to investigate the public’s perception of mathematics, science, and the relationship between the two.

Surveys of both newsletter audiences allow analysis of the differences between these science and mathematics groups, comparing how readers engage with the newsletters and the impact the newsletters have on them. Data from the mailing list software includes open rates and click rates as measures of reader engagement. The combined data gives insight into how these audiences overlap, and shows any key differences in how the readers interact with the newsletters. This helps us better understand the intersection of science and maths communication, and how to deliver greater impact for our publications.